The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Aviation safety investigations & reports

Ryan STM, VH-RAE, Clifton, Qld, 14 February 1970

The flight was undertaken to provide some "unofficial" dual instruction towards endorsement of the type on
the licence of the pilot under training. The aircraft was of the dual tandem cockpit type and communications
between the two pilots was by means of voice tubes. At a low level during the approach for a practice forced
landing the pilot-in-command took over the controls, adjusted the power and levelled the aircraft. He states
that he then handed back control to the trainee pilot and accepted that the latter had control although he did
not receive the usual response, "taking over". The trainee pilot states that he understood that the pilot-incommand
continued to have control of the aircraft. The aircraft continued to fly in a wide shallow left turn at
a low level and although each pilot thought that the other had control, each momentarily moved the controls
to avoid an unsafe situation. Neither pilot observed that the aircraft was converging with a set of three
power lines with which it ultimately collided. The wires did not break but the aircraft was flung sideways
striking the ground with the port wing tip and rolling on to its back. There was no fire and the trainee pilot
was able to vacate the rear cockpit unaided. He assisted the pilot-in-command to vacate the front cockpit.